Piecing Me Together

Jade, a high school junior, lives in a poor, black neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. She is a good student and creates unique works of art by turning everyday objects into collages. While she’s not anxious to leave her best friend, Lee Lee, and her neighborhood school, Jade’s mom insists she accept a scholarship to a prestigious academy across town. St. Francis High offers opportunities she would never have otherwise, including the possibility of traveling abroad to be involved in a service project. Jade hates that she’s always being labeled “at risk” and given “opportunities.” She loves the idea of helping someone else for a change.

When the St. Francis counselor calls Jade in for a meeting, she’s sure she’ll be invited on the trip. Instead, the counselor tells her about a mentoring program for African American girls called Woman to Woman. Mentors and mentees will visit museums and attend concerts throughout the city as well as meet for meals and discussions. Jade is disappointed and only enrolls in the program because it will provide college scholarship opportunities.

Jade’s mentor, Maxine, fails to show up at the first Woman to Woman meeting. The college student comes to Jade’s house later to apologize, but Maxine continues to cut out on their times together whenever her deadbeat boyfriend calls. Maxine comes from an affluent black family, and her behavior shows Jade she doesn’t understand the plight of poor black teens. Jade continues to attend Woman to Woman meetings with Maxine, where mentors urge the young women to stand up for themselves and make their voices heard.

Jade meets Sam on the city bus to St. Francis High. Sam comes from a poorer white neighborhood and has lived with her grandparents since her mother abandoned her. Sam and Jade become good friends and spend time at each other’s homes, although Sam’s grandparents are nervous about letting her visit Jade’s dangerous black neighborhood. Sam fails to see or acknowledge the racial prejudice Jade often encounters. St. Francis has a few other black students, but most come from wealthy families. Without knowing where Jade or Sam reside, one black girl rants about how depressed she’d be if she had to live in a dangerous ghetto like Northeast Portland.

Jade still hopes for an invitation to attend the spring break service trip. When she learns Sam has been invited to serve in Costa Rica, she feels bitter. Once again, the combination of her color and financial status has made others believe she needs a handout and can’t assist others. Sam thinks Jade blames race for everything that goes wrong in her life. They fight, and Jade wonders if the friendship is worth saving.

After a rocky beginning, Maxine and Jade talk through some of their differences. Jade tells Maxine her words about self-respect don’t go very far when she sees Maxine cowering to her boyfriend. She also helps Maxine see that all young black women don’t have the same opportunities due to different financial backgrounds. They begin to relate to one another better, and Maxine drops her boyfriend for good.

Maxine introduces Jade to some of her friends and family members. Maxine’s sister, Mia, owns an art gallery, and Jade is anxious to learn what it takes to manage this business. She speaks up and asks Mia to do a presentation for a Woman to Woman gathering. Jade continues to practice speaking up for herself and respectfully but passionately tells her school counselor how she feels about being passed over for the Costa Rica trip.

Jade and her family hear a devastating news report about a black girl beaten by police at a party. The 15-year-old’s name is Natasha Ramsey. For Jade, the tragedy is just another reminder of the way skin color and poverty impact girls like her.

Jade counts the days until the Woman to Woman meeting at the art gallery. She wonders if there might be an internship available for someone like her, and Maxine urges her to use her voice and ask Mia. Mia says she does have two paid internships and would be happy to talk to Jade about them. Jade is also invited to contribute some of her collage art to a fundraiser.

People praise her work at the event, and Jade feels more hopeful than ever that good things may be in store for her. Jade’s old friend, Lee Lee, shows Jade a poem she’s written about Natasha Ramsey. Jade has been working on a collage featuring unsung black heroes like Lewis and Clark’s guide, York. The girls are inspired to plan a benefit gala for Natasha and her family. When they ask Mia, she agrees to host the event at her gallery.

Jade confronts Sam and admits she’s hurt by Sam’s failure to acknowledge the racism all around them. She and Sam talk things through and repair their friendship. Jade’s counselor apologizes for overlooking her and helps promote the benefit by giving extra credit to any students who attend. He also tells Jade he’ll save her a spot for the next spring break trip. The gala goes off beautifully, and Jade continues to discover she has power when she respectfully speaks up for herself and others.